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Patricia Reding

Ephemeral and Fleeting

Synopsis

A Lost Freedom.
An Ephemeral Existence.
A Profound Mystery.
After Mara and her charges, Reigna and Eden—the ranking twin members of the first family of the Select—discover the twins’ unparalleled magic powers and then move to the palace of the Select at Shimeron, they return to the City of Light. There they train with the Oathtaker forces, preparing a response to the ongoing threat from Zarek, the evil leader of Chiran. But when a traitor in their midst discloses their plans to visit the realm’s border for a closer look, they are captured and imprisoned. Stripped of her Oathtaker’s blade, Mara soon discovers that an unknown power bars her ability to use her attendant magic to escape, or to free the twins.
As Mara’s magic dreams endeavor to inform her of events to transpire, as her cohorts labor to decipher ancient prophecy, as the twins learn of the power of a magic artifact they carry, and as Lucy struggles to uncover the traitor in their midst, Dixon’s rescue attempt takes shape. Meanwhile, Zarek’s son—the twins’ cousin, Broden—seeks to assist his father’s prisoners. But before he can do so, Mara discovers that the loss of her charges is only one painful outcome that could come to pass.
Escape is impossible; survival, questionable; loss, inevitable.
And yet . . . things are not always what they seem.

Author Biography

Multi-award-winning author Patricia Reding leads a double life. By day, she practices law. By night, she reads, reviews a wide variety of works, and writes fantasy. She lives on an island on the Mississippi with her husband and youngest daughter (her son and oldest daughter having already flown the nest), and Flynn Rider (an English Cream Golden Retriever). From there she seeks to create a world in which she can be in two places at once.
Oathtaker: The Oathtaker Series, Vol. One, won a GOLD medal in the Literary Classics Int'l Book Award Contest, also won an award in the Readers' Favorite Int'l Book Award Contest, and was named a Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book Award Contest. In addition, WindDancer Films has asked to take a look at it . . .
Select: The Oathtaker Series, Vol. Two, won a SILVER medal in the Literary Classics Int'l Book Award Contest and earned a Finalist award in the Readers' Favorite Int'l Book Awards Contest.
Ephemeral and Fleeting: The Oathtaker Series, Vol. 3, won a SILVER medal in the 2017 Literary Classics International Book Award Contest.
Sign up for Patricia's email list at www.PatriciaReding.com.

Author Insight

All I Need

Like many couples, Mara and Dixon want a child someday, but not necessarily "now." Imagine if the only option you had for avoiding pregnancy, was one that could eventually make you truly barren. Or imagine if your use of it could actually be the life of a child who would otherwise (without the interference of your use of it), live and grow? We are fortunate to live in a world with so many options, but we sometimes fail to appreciate that even those options come with a price. Frequently, I see articles discussing the health effects of different types of birth control commonly used in the real world. What would you do if you were Mara and you faced the same risks that she is facing? Chance future infertility? Or chance the taking of the life of your unborn?

Book Excerpt

Ephemeral and Fleeting

Dixon approached. He took his cape and draped it over her shoulders, then took her hand. “I wish I could take on that burden, but to date, Lucy’s found nothing that would work.” He sighed. “Aren’t there any other options for us?”

“Lucy says the others would be even more dangerous to my health—with the possible exception of using a cassus tincture, but . . .” Pausing, she pulled the cape more tightly around her shoulders.

“But what? Maybe we should try that for a time.”

She bit her lip and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I just . . . can’t bring myself to do it.”

“Why?”

She wrung her hands. “Because Lucy says she doesn’t know if it prevents pregnancy, or if it actually acts as an abortifacient.” She held his gaze. “I— I can’t do that.”

With his thumb, Dixon wiped away a tear slipping down her cheek. Then he gathered her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I understand. Truly, I do.”

He pulled back, then tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “The truth is that I have all I’ve ever needed. I’d love for us to have a child, but if it’s not to be, then at least I’ll get to spend my days knowing that I got the one thing that was the most important to me.” Drawing her closer again, he said, “I got you.” Again, he kissed the top of her head.

“You know, when I thought I couldn’t be with you all those years ago, when you nearly sent me away—I thought my heart would break. Then, when you were injured and didn’t even know who I was, I thought I’d lost you all over again.”